Bohemia

Meanings

Proper Noun

• A region in the west of the former Czechoslovakia and present-day Czech Republic.

Noun

• A community of bohemians, unconventional artists or writers.

Origin

• Latinized translation of French Bohème, from Late Latin Boiohaemum, compound of Boii, the Celtic tribe previously inhabiting the area and Germanic *haimaz (more at home). The endonym is from Proto-Celtic *boyos and could ultimately be from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws ("cattle") (compare Proto-Celtic *bāus ("cattle"), genitive *bowos), a reference to cattle owners, or from *bʰeyh₂-, i.e. “warrior, strong hitter” (compare Proto-Celtic *binati ("to strike, hit")).
• Bohemia was abandoned by the Boii c. 60 BCE and settled by the Germanic Marcomanni shortly thereafter. Related to Bavaria.